Device for applying and twisting wire



Oct. 15, 1929. E. D. TUBBS DEVICE FOR APPLYING AND TWISTING WIRE Filed April 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet .Z'azz-Z 49. T2555.

Oct. 15, 1929. E. D. 'ruBBs 732,072

DEVICE FOR APPLYING AND TWISTING WIRE Filed April 28. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet Zaz-Z D. 22255.5.

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Oct. 15, 1929. E. D. TUBBS mzvxcnr'on APPLYING AND TWISTING WIRE Fil ed April 2a, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 15 1929 DEVICE FOR- APPLYING AND TWISTING WIRE Application filed April 28, 1928. Serial No. 2%,571;

This invention relates to devices for applying wire to boxes, bundles, balesor the like, and the improvements are directed to novel and improved means for twisting the free. ends of said Wire.

' The invention contemplates the provision of a device of the above-mentioned character which is exceedingly compact in arrangement and which requires a minimum of effort to operate the same.

The invention includes a mechanism of cooperating parts adapted to first tighten the wire encircling or encompassing the box, or

the like; second, to twist the overlapping i.) portions thereof and finally to clip oil the free ends adjacent the twisted wire.

Another object is to provide twisting means; including a rotatable'member having a radial slot extending transversely thereof,

the outer portion of said slot presenting flaring sides to facilitate the entrance and removal, before and after twisting, respectively.

Still another object of the invention is to provide removable stationary means for positioning said rotatable member within a carrier member,said means extending co-axially of said rotatable member, from both sides thereof, and presenting end slots substan- 0 tiallly conforming to the slot in said member. Still another object is the provision of re movable stationary means, composed of two parts having a slot therethrough and eX- ten-ding longitudinally .to the center of the closed ends thereof, and a chamber of a sufficient diameter within said parts, between the closed ends and the sides of the rotative member tovpermit the free rotation of the wire during the twisting operation;

A; further object is to provide a rotatable member,'slotted in the manner set forth, said member presenting oppositely disposed recesses arranged centrally thereof and. coincidin-g with the inner end of the slot to pre- 5 vent nicking of the wire during the twisting operation, and subsequent shearing thereof. A. still further object is to provide a clutch mechanism whereby the tightening and twisting operationsmay be performed incle- 5 pendently' of one another;

A still further object is to provide a per? odically operable mechanism whereby the free ends of the wire may be severed after the twisting operation.

A still further object resides in the provision of cutting or severing means, adj ustably mounted and positioned toselectively operate on the free ends of the twisted wire.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be describedmore fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the housing or closure for said device, the mechanism of said device being shown in fro-ntelevation and preparatory to the performance of the tightening operation. Fig. 2 is a View like unto Figure 1, but showing the mechanism in rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and illusg trating the mechanism in end elevation."

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section tak en substantially on the line 4l-4 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away. i

Fig. 5 is an end elevation. of the mecha nism, as viewed from the right of 1, a. portion of the housing being removed. i

Fig. 6 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the operation of certain oscillatory means carryingone of the cutters" Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view, somewhat enlarged, and taken on the line 7 7o fl Fig. 1, and illustrating the stationary means for positioning a rotatable element within a carrier member. c V v Fig. 8 is a sectional view, talren on the line 88 of Fig-7, said stationary meansbeing shown in elevation. Fig. 9 is a central sectional view ofthe rotatable member illustrating the recesses, oppositely disposed, and arranged central-1y to coincide with the inner portion of a radial} slot in said member. I 1 f, Fig. 10 is aside el'evationof said rotatable member, illustratingthe flaring slot and an 199 annular groove, surrounding both of said recesses, and adapted to receive the inner ends of said stationary means.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of said rotatable member and associated stationary means, detached from the carrier member, and diagrammatically illustrating the twisted wire.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of one of the stationary members, to depict the slot arranged in'the outer end thereof.

Before presenting the invention in its detailed form, it is pointed out that the device contemplates manually-operated means, in the form of a crank, or the like, adapted to travel in an orbit, its rotation in onedirection, or phase of the orbit, operating the tensioning or tightening of a wire previously Wrapped around a box, or the like, the twisting operation and the severing'operation being'inoperative during this tightening of the wire. As will presently appear a clutch ,mechanism is provided Which is adapted to free certain rotative parts and to permit the rotation of the crank in an opposite phase of the orbit, for operating the twisting mechanism and the periodically operated mechanism for severing the undesired ends of the twisted wire.

Thus, briefly, I propose to provide means for tightening the wire previously wrapped around a box, or the like, and through certain selectively operated mechanism to twist the overlapping portions and finally to sever the undesired wire ends at the outer terminae tion of each, each of the operations being sequentially timed and adapted to reduce the aforesaid operations to a minimum.

In carrying out the aforesaid objects, I provide a manually-operated crank 15, suitably aflixed to one end of a shaft, suitably journalled in the side member 17 of a closure 18, said shaft 16 extending longitudinally of said closure'and having its other end journalled in a bracket 19 rising from the base 20 of said closure. Disks 21 and 22, having a depending portion 23 and 24 respec tively, are fixedly secured to said shaft by means of pins 25 and 26 (see Fig. 1), while ratchet wheels 27 and 28 are loosely journalled thereon, the former being pinned to a pinion 29, loose on said shaft, while the latter is pinned to a bevel gear 30 also loose on said shaft 16, each of said depending portions 2324 pivotally carrying spring-pressed pawls 3132, oppositely disposed with r spect to said ratchet wheels 27 and 28.

Meshing with said bevel gear 30 is another bevel gear 33 carried by the upper end of a vertical shaft 34, journalled in arm 19 of said bracket 19, the lower end of said shaft being journalled in a plate 35 carried by the base 20, and adjacently carrying a worm 36 meshing with worm 37 splined to horizontal stub shaft 38 rotatively mounted in bracket 39,- as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Considering now the first orbital travel of the handle 15, with reference to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the rotation of the same to the right will revolve said shaft 16 and the disks 2l'-22pinned to said shaft. However, in this rotation it is only desired to convey motion to said bevel gear 30 and hence the arrangement of said pawl 32, as indicated in Fig. 4, with respect to said ratchet wheel 28, causes the rotation of the latter and its pinned bevel gear 30, said pawl 31, in the meantime riding over the teeth of said ratchet wheel 27. The rotative motion of said bevel gear 30 isconveyed to the worms 36-37 through the mechanism aforesaid and thus the motion is transmitted to said horizontal shaft 38. In this particular instance. there is no restriction to the operation-of said handle to the right as shown in Fig. 5, it being understood that said ratchet wheel 27 and the pinion 29 remains stationary during this operation.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, said shaft-38 'is provided with a head 39 carrying for wardly directed pins 40 and '41, for a purpose to be presently disclosed in detail.

Driven gear 42, enmeshed with gear or pinion 29 is carried-by shaft'43, rotatively mounted in standards 44 and 45 rising from base 20 and integrally cast therewith if desirable, the outer ends of said shaft 43 fixedly carrying hubs 46 and 47 having diametrically opposed projections 48-49 and 50-51 respectively.

The carrier member 52 is suitably secured to said base member 20, as by screws and 54, (see F ig. 7) and is provided with a medial recess 55 to receive the toothed rotatable member 56, said carrier member being provided with longitudinally extended alined bores and 58 for the reception of the removable stationary means 59 and 60. Upon inspection of Fig. 1, it will be noted that said rotatable member 56 meshes with said gear 42, and hence the said member 56 is free to rotate in the aforesaid recess. 55, but upon inspection of Fig. 8, it Will be observed that said means 59 and 60 is held stationary within said bores 57 and 58 in View of set screws 61 and 62, and their removal is effected by the release of said set screws.

The specific construction'of said rotatable member 56 is clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein it will be observed that a radial slot 63 is provided, the same extending transversely thereof from the axis of said member to the periphery thereof, that portion adjacent the aXis presenting substantially parallel sides 64 from which said slot diverges or flares outwardly, as indicated at 65 toward the periphery of said member. As clearly shown in Fig. 9 the opposite sides of said memberis flared as indicated at 66 and 67', thesame being in the nature of recesses and co-axially blending with the inner end of said slot Arranged concentric with said recesses 66 and 67 are'annular grooves 68 and 69, which receive the inner ends of stationary means '59 and 60 respectively, as shown in Fig. 8, said stationary means comprising a pair of tubular elements, each having their closedouter ends 7 O and 71 provided with slots 72 and 73 substantially conforming to recess. 63 of said member 56. I 1

Extending laterally from said standard 44: is an arm 7%, pivotally supporting a rock lever 7 5, as indicated'at 7 6, (see Figs. 2 and 4), the upper end of said lever extending throu h slot 77 inthe cover 78 of said closure -18, while the lower end of said lever 7 is pivotally connected to a horizontal rod 79, as shown at 80, the lnner end of'said rod being normally positioned 1n an aperture 81 in said gear 42. Said lever (5 and its associated parts comprise literally a clutch mechanism,

since the entrance of the end of said rod 7 9 within aperture 81 normally restrains the rotation of said gear 42. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in I the drawings, I have provided two apertures I adjustably carried by the oscillatory members 85 and 86, respectively, each being pivoted to opposite sides of said carrier member 52, as indicated at 87 and 88,'and maintained in a position with the cutters ele- --'vated by means of springs 89 and 90, the

former extending and jeined to arm 74,- while the latter is joined to arm 91 extending laterally from standard do. While in this position the rear portion of the upstanding arms ll 85 and86 each abut the hubs 4-6 and 47,

(see Figs. 4 and 5), said arms being recessed as indicated at 92 and 93, for the reception of rotatable elements 94 and 95 in thepat-hs of the projections carried by said hubs 4G and Positioned adjacent the cutter 84:, (see Figs. 1 and 5), is a clamping lever 96, eccentricall'y pivoted to a bracket 98, as indicated at 97, said bracket being slotted as indicated at 99, and in line with the axis of said rotatable member 56. i l

' The device is exceedingly compact and may be. carried by means of handle 100 positioned on the cover 78, and hence when the said. device is to' be used it is transported and placed upon the top of a box, or the like,

to be wire-bound, whereupon. the end of a suitablelength of wire is placed in slot 99 and the lever 96 drawn down to the position shown in Fig. 6- thus firmly clamping said end. The wire is next inserted through the side opening 52 of carrierjmember 52,thus passing through slots 73, 63 and 72, (see Fig. 8) and to the rear thereof; said wire then being wrapped around the box, or the like,

brought upwardly, again inserted, or literally pushed into the slots aforesaid, its free end being placed between pins 41, wrapped around pin and thence between pins 41 to securely bind said end, as shown in dotted lines in F ig.'1. In its present condition the wire is, of course, loosely wrapped around the box, or the like, and the first operation is to draw the same taut. Said crank 15 is now rotated to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, whereupon the cooperating pawl and ratchet 3228 couples said bevel gear 30 to shaft 16 and communicates rotative movement to said head 39, on shaft 38, through the intermediary of the gearing 3637 and 33, and in View of the positioning of the pins lO-el'l on said head 39 the free end of the wire proceeds to wrap thereon until the complete length of said wire is sufficiently tightened about the'box. This completes the tightening operation. 7

The next operation, to wit: twisting, is accomplished by conveying rotative motion to said member 56' in whose slot 63 the wire is positioned ina two-strand relation. As a first step said rock lever is oscillated to retract the end of rod 7 9" from apertures 81 in said gear 42', whereupon the crank 15 may be rotated to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5,

said ratchet wheel 27 and pawl 31 co-operating to lock pinion 29 to said shaft 16 and its rotative motion is transmitted to said member 56 by meansof gear 42. It will, of course, be understood that in this operation the pawl 32 rides over the teeth of ratchet wheel 28 Y gear has made a half revolution, thus locking the parts constituting the twisting mechanism.

Considering now the position of the wire passed through said slots 7 363-7 2, in denble or two-strand formation, it will be understood that normally'the two wires lie side by side in the same horizontal plane, this condition is made possible by selecting a member 56 and tubular members 59 and 60 having the inner portion of their slots substantially conforming to the diameter of thewire being used, With this in mind it is obvious that V the side by side arrangement of the wires in to the wire is due to the rotation of said member 56, and between said slots 72 and '73, in which slots the ends of the wire are clinched.

The number of twists to which the wires are subjected may be varied as desired. 7 F or instance, the apertures 81 and 82 permit a half-revolution of said gear 6 2, but manifestly one of the apertures may be rendered inoperative, as by plugging, for instance, to allow said gear 42 to make one complete revolution and an attendant increase in the revolutions of and 86 pivotally supported to the carrier member as pointed out hereinbefore, and adapted to oscillate to bring said cutters into contact with the proper ends of the wires to be severed. The operation will be understood upon inspection of Fig. 6, wherein will be noted that the rotation of gear 42, during the twisting operation, likewise rcvolves the hubs 46 and4t7, on its shaft 43, and

brings a selected projection into contact with a rotatable element of said osclllatory members for the purpose specified. In Fig. 6 the projection 51 has been rotated from the position shown in Fig. 5 and is cooperating with rotatable element 95, in recess 93, to depress the cutter against the end of the wire. A similar operation attends both oscillatory members and the cutters associated therewith. The cutters 83 and 84 are adj ustably mounted in oscillatory members 85 and 86 by means of set-screws'lOl and 102, as clearly shown in 4, and since only a single wire of the double strand formation is to be severed by said cutters, the cutter 83 is positioned out of the vertical axis of slot 72, while its companion 84 is positioned within the vertical axis of said slot 73.

In view of the flaring of the sides of said slot 63, of member 56, the ordinary tendency of the wire to bind in said slot 68, is obviated,

and further its quick removal is facilitated.

I T he flared recesses 66 and 6'? of said member 56 prevents notching'or nicking of the wires when being twisted and removes the liability of a break at this point. This is a feature of some importance.

As previously suggested, the essential elements of the twisting mechanism are readily removed and may be substituted for parts having larger or smaller recesses to accommodate the particular size of wire to be used.

Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member and stationary members rotatably supporting said member and having slot-ted portions conforming to said slot in said member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wired uring the twisting operation.

2. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member and stationary members rotatably supporting said member, said members extending from the opposite sides of said member and each having a slotted portion conforming to saidslot in said member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

3. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot presenting diverging side walls for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member, and stationary mem bers adapted to support said member and extending axially thereof, said members having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operationu a 4. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a transverse radial slot presenting diverging side walls, for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for.

imparting rotation to said member, a carrier member having a recess for the reception of said member and further having longitudinal,

bores opening from the face of said member, and stationary members adapted to support said rotative member in said carrier member, said stationary members extending axially of said rotative member and having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

5. In a device of the character described,

a rotative member having a transverse radial slot presenting diverging side walls for the reception of wires to be twisted and having conoidal recesses on both faces concentric with said slot, means for imparting rotation to said member, acarrier member having a recess for the reception of said member and further having longitudinal bores opening from the face of said member, and stationary I ,members adapted to support said rotative member in said carrier member, said stationary members extending axially of said rotative member and having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

6. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot presenting diverging side walls for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member, stationary members adapted to support said member and extending axially thereof, said members having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adaptedto clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation, and means to sever the free ends of said twisted wire.

7. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a transverse radial slot presenting diverging side walls, for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member, a carrier member having a recess for the reception of said member and further having longitudinal bores opening from the face of said member, stationary members adapted to support said rotative member in said carrier member, said stationary members extending axially of said rotative member and having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation, and means to sever the free ends of said twisted wire.

8. In a device of the character describes, a rotative member having a radial slot transversely arranged therein for the reception of wire ends to be twisted, means for'imparting rotation to said member, stationary members adapted to rotatively support said member, said members extending coaxially from the opposite sides of said rotative member and each having their outer ends slotted to conform to the slot in said member there being a chamber provided intermediate the respective slots to permit the free rotation of the twisted portion of the wire and co-operating means for severing the free ends of the twisted portion. v p

9. In a device of the character described, a gear member adapted to be rotated, said member having a radial slot diverging from the center to the periphery thereof and havingv oppositely disposed central flaring terminals in the sides thereof and further being provided with an annular groove arranged concentric with said flaring terminals and stationary members having their inner ends rotatively arranged in said annular groove to support said member during rotation thereof.

10. In a device of the character described, a pair of oppositely directed tubular members removably and non-rotatively mounted and a rotative member borne by said members, said tubular members having their outer ends slotted, there being a radial transverse slot arranged in said rotative member similarly disposed and in alinement with the slots of said tubular members, both of said. tubular members being susceptible of adjustment to permit the replacement of a rotative mem-. ber therebetween.

11. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot for the reception of wires to be twisted and presenting annular grooves concentric with the axis of said member, means for imparting rotation to said member, and stationary members having their inner ends received in said grooves and adapted to rotatably support forming to said slot in said member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

12. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot for the reception of wires to be twisted and pre senting annular grooves concentric with the axis of said member, means for imparting rota-tionto said member, a carrier member having a recess for the reception of said member and further having longitudinal bores opening from the face of saidmember and stationary members having their inner ends received'in said grooves and adapted to support said rotative member in said carrier member, the outer ends of said stationary members being slotted to conform to the slot in said rotative member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

13. In a device of the character described, a rotative member having a radial slot for the reception of wires to be twisted, means for imparting rotation to said member, and stationary members rotatably supporting said member, said members comprising tubular elements, each extending from the opp0- site side of said member and each having its outer end notchedto conform to the said slot in said member and adapted to clinch the ends of the wire during the twisting operation.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

EARL D. TUBES.

sald member and having slotted portions con-i 

